Wednesday, October 17, 2012

"I never yet saw an instance of one of two disputants convincing the other by argument. I have seen many on their getting warm, becoming rude, and shooting one another. Conviction is the effect of our own dispassionate reasoning, either in solitude, or weighing within ourselves dispassionately what we hear from others standing uncommitted in argument ourselves. It was one of the rules which above all others made Doctr. Franklin the most amiable of men in society, `never to contradict any body.' If he was urged to announce an opinion, he did it rather by asking questions, as if for information, or by suggesting doubts. When I hear another express an opinion, which is not mine, I say to myself, He has a right to his opinion, as I to mine; why should I question it. His error does me no injury, and shall I become a Don Quixot to bring all men by force of argument, to one opinion? If a fact be misstated, it is probable he is gratified by a belief of it, and I have no right to deprive him of the gratification. If he wants information he will ask it, and then I will give it in measured terms; but if he still believes his own story, and shows a desire to dispute the fact with me, I hear him and say nothing. Thomas Jefferson 1808

Thanks you for being the bee’s knees. Thank you for being a
brother and a teacher, and most of all for sharing your lessons and experiences
with us, and telling us how important that is in life. We’re sooo glad you’re a
member of our tribe. I personally have always disagreed with that saying…you
know the one…the one about how you can choose your friends but not your family?
That’s just ridiculous. We have the most amazing hand picked family in the
World. I LOVE us. Thank you for throwing the most awesome graduation party
ever. It just wouldn’t have gotten done at all without you. And I really can’t
even convey with words how much it meant to us. Two awesome wonderful boys who
are all too used to getting the short end of the stick, got to have an
exceptional and special day. And there are so many other days that you’ve helped
make special. Thank you for being an adult who cares…thank you for making me
feel less alone. Love you brother. P.S. I hope you like that cheese-tastic
rhyme.

Monday, October 8, 2012

The Burleson Street Historical District sits on high ground in this town - in many ways. With a comprehensive view of the coastal plain and nearly all of the city, so too do we look down on Belvin Street - where the groomed lawns are and the domestic help. Our street jingle - someday a billboard ad - "Burleson Street Historical District - Where We Look Down on Belvin."

No less than two weeks ago, I was having a cordial conversation with one of my pals - a notable and influential local leader who lives nearby with his wife. "I don't know how you do it Carl", he said, speaking to the endless drama that seems to permeate the hilltop and the landscape below, pouring like sticky syrup from our small section of street. True true, it is amazing. It caused me to think for a good long while about what has indeed been a gushing cornucopia of pungent aromatic squabble, distasteful distress, beguiled bickering, trench and foxhole digging and mud ball fight, a virtual, hot and steamy Yellowstone National Park rotten egg stink hole - a full on menagerie of things that unsettle the waters in idle times.

I revisited that conversation last night with my neighbor - laughing a bit - "this is a small town, she says, people just cant mind their own business here, especially when their drunk." Another "true true." "Imagine" she says speaking of Belvin Street. "All those characters down there, they are probably just like us, all mixed up in each other's stuff. "

Interesting I thought, this is probably true as well. A lot of neighborhoods live very segregated lives where people don't even know the folks next door, much less down the block. Up here, we all know each other along with the knowing of the best and worst of each of us. And despite what seems at times to be tensions that teeter on the cusp of all out war, the arming of missiles with ever more powerful warheads intent upon mutual assured destruction, we still watch out for each other. When the shit hits the fan, and something needs to get done for the common good - we put aside our differences and do our best. It is no Miracle on 34th Street - but it does "Take a Village" to live in and raise a neighborhood with its many unique and sometimes vulnerable parts - a neighborhood that makes life worth living and fighting for. And in the end, both young and old, we will have been recognized for making that happen. We will be recognized for making the best of our various strengths and sheltering our weaknesses, assets and liabilities, good and evil, to find times - here and there - where we are all thankful for each other. We might duke it out on the street corner now and then, but we will help each other set the broken noses afterward, clean up the bloody mess, and move on to the next crisis, Birthday Party, Halloween, New Year's Eve or Venison Cookout - without missing a step.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Holy Crap - I just discovered that one of my tenants or one of their druggie friends turned on the pool heater three weeks ago. That's gonna be 11000 watts per hour for twenty one days, and or, 5544 Kilowatt Hours. So you know, that's enough juice to run one 100 watt lightbulb for 69.616 years. I better find an oil well on the lot.

Monday, October 1, 2012

The Washek dinner was great. I baked some baguettes and a chicken dinner. Bronwyn made a Pavolova. Washek was good fun having finished his work at Rice and was glad to get the drink on - said he was so tired of Mathematics right now he didn't want to talk about it anymore. He was there working with some other preeminent mathematician on a math problem of some sort - which they successfully proved apparently. Alex made the martinis. Washek hit on everyone else's girl. Anyhow - it was great to see Washek and Lida both. We've been trying to put this dinner together for four years now - and something has always interrupted it. And - it seems Washek has just published another book on his integration proofs. He says he will send me a copy, but that I will only be able to read the cover and preface - so it's like the last one. Randy's girl Natasha asked Washek what exactly it was that he does. He said to her, when you take a little wire ring and dip it in soapy water to blow bubbles, you like that because it makes bubbles. I consider all of the forces at work and explain why the bubbles are made mathematically. They leave today for Santa Fe.

Present Tense

Living in or worrying about the past, or about something once done that you could have done better is a useless endeavor - for no amount of energy can change the past. The future is still to unfold and may never be, and so waiting today in anticipation of something tomorrow is just as fruitless as is your lamenting the past. Our only time to truly live is in the present - this moment - and to do all that is doable.